612 



THE ARTERIES. 



The pancreatic are numerous small branches derived from the splenic as it 

 runs behind the upper border of the pancreas, supplying its middle and left parts. 

 One of these, larger than the rest, is given off from the splenic near the left 

 extremity of the pancreas ; it runs from left to right near the posterior surface of 

 the gland, following the course of the pancreatic duct, and is called the pancreatica 

 magna. These vessels anastomose with the pancreatic branches of the pancreatico- 



Great 



FIG. 369. The coeliac axis and its branches, the stomach having been raised and the transverse meso-colon 

 removed (semi-diagrammatic). 



duodenal arteries, derived from the hepatic on the one hand and superior mesenteric 

 on the other. 



The gastric (vasa brevia) consists of from five to seven small branches, which 

 arise either from the termination of the splenic artery or from its terminal branches, 

 and, passing from left to right, between the layers of the gastro-splenic omentum, 

 are distributed to the great curvature of the stomach, anastomosing with branches 

 of the gastric and gastro-epiploica sinistra arteries. 



The gastro-epiploica sinistra, the largest branch of the splenic, runs from left 

 to right along the great curvature -of the stomach, between the layers of the great 

 omentum, and anastomoses with the gastro-epiploica dextra. In its course it 

 distributes several branches to the stomach, which ascend upon both surfaces ; 

 others descend to supply the omentum. 



The Superior Mesenteric Artery (Fig. 370). 



In order to expose this vessel raise the great omentum and transverse colon, draw down the 

 small intestines, and cut through the peritoneum where the transverse meso-colon and mesen- 



